St Martin and the Beggar, by El
Greco, ca. 1597–99 (National
Gallery of Art, Washington)
Some have criticized us in the in the Breaking the Silence movement for use of military imagery in describing our work for peace and justice. However, there is a long history of using military imagery in religions. A soldier for Christ means being a soldier for nonviolence, just the opposite of a soldier for the to make war.
Early followers of the way of Jesus were forbidden of fight in the Roman army. One of the early soldiers when Christianity was adopted by the Roman Empire in 4th century was St. Martin Tours. He was a soldier in the Roman Empire when he determined that his faith prohibited him from fighting, saying, “I am a soldier of Christ. I cannot fight.” He was charged with cowardice and jailed like a modern day Soldier of Christ.
One of the saints I have studied the most is St. Ignatius of Loyola was a soldier in a Spanish military unit when he was injured in battle with France. While he was recovery from his wound he had his inner conversation which led to his turning over his weapons to Mary, the Black Madonna in Montserrat and becoming a poor pilgrim in the army of Christ. In his book of Spiritual Exercises God and Satan are presented as leaders of two opposite military. We must choose between the riches, power and glory of Satan or the poverty, helplessness and humility of God.
St. Francis of Assisi was also a soldier in the military before an inner conversation and he went on to be the patron saint of nonviolence.
Reading books about the principles of war, like The Art of War, an ancient Chinese military treatise attributed to Sun Tzu we can learn a lot about how to conduct our lives in everyday life. Evil, sin, violence and senseless death are all around us. Often we go on the defensive while the enemy attacks and attacks. Being a soldier of Christ we can learn how to go on the offensive not to kill but to save lives.
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